Point of sale payment method

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a method of making a payment transaction between a customer and a merchant using a payment card ( 200 ) of the customer including steps of: transmitting details of the payment transaction from a mobile device ( 202 ) to a remote server; capturing at least one image of the payment card using the mobile device of the merchant; transmitting the at least one image of the payment card to the remote server; identifying, by the remote server, the merchant and the payment card captured in the at least one image; and implementing the payment transaction between bank accounts ( 208, 210 ) of the customer and the merchant

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and system for makingpayments, and in particular a method and system for making payments at apoint of sale using a payment card.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates schematically a payment method often used for makingpayments by payment card, such as a credit or debit card.

The payment card 102 is a smart card having a built-in chip 103, and ispresented by a customer at a point of sale. The card is placed in a chipreader 104, which reads the chip and requests that the customer typeshis/her PIN (personal identification number). The correct PIN is storedon the electronic chip 103 and thus the chip reader 104 is able toimmediately verify whether the PIN has been correctly entered. The carddetails and transaction details are then transmitted to a credit cardclearing house (CCCH) 106, for example via a telephone line, and thecredit card clearing house settles both the customer's account and themerchant's account, by transferring money from customer's bank 108 tothe merchant's bank 110.

There are a number of drawbacks with the method represented by FIG. 1.Firstly, all businesses that wish to accept payments by smart cardrequire a chip reader 104, which is costly, and not practical in manysituations. Furthermore, the chip reader requires regular maintenance.There is thus a need for alternative means for verifying a customer'sidentity, and making electronic payments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention aim at at least partiallyaddressing one or more of the needs in the prior art.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided amethod of making a payment transaction between a customer and a merchantusing a payment card of the customer comprising: transmitting details ofthe payment transaction from a mobile device of the merchant to a remoteserver; capturing at least one image of the payment card using themobile device; transmitting the at least one image of the payment cardto the remote server; identifying, by the remote server, the merchantand the payment card captured in the at least one image; andimplementing the payment transaction between bank accounts of thecustomer and the merchant.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the method furthercomprises, prior to transmitting details of the payment transaction fromthe mobile device to the remote server, establishing a call between themobile device and the remote server, the details being transmitted viathe established call.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the merchantis identified by the remote server by the caller identification numberassociated with the call,

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the callis a video call established via a mobile telephone network, and whereinsaid image of said payment card is captured by filming said payment cardduring said video call.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the connectionis a voice call, and wherein the server comprises an integrated voiceresponse unit.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the methodcomprises: after identifying the merchant and the payment card,receiving by the remote server a personal identification number from thecustomer; and comparing, by the remote server, the personalidentification number with a pre-registered number associated with thepayment card.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the step ofrequesting a personal identification number from the customer comprisestransmitting a PIN request from the remote server to the mobile device,and transmitting the PIN from the mobile device to the remote server.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the step ofrequesting a personal identification number from the customer comprisestransmitting a PIN request to a customer's mobile device.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the paymentcard comprises a visual feature, and wherein the visual feature iscaptured in the at least one image.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the methodfurther comprises comparing, by the remote server, the visual feature inthe captured image with a registered image in order to authenticate thepayment card.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, thetransaction details comprise at least a total amount of the paymenttransaction, and wherein the transaction details are typed using akeypad of the mobile device.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the methodfurther comprises, prior to the step of transmitting details of thepayment transaction to the remote server, capturing by the mobile deviceat least one image to determine the payment details.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, identifyingthe payment card comprises using optical character recognition torecognize details printed on the card.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda system for making a payment comprising: a mobile device comprising acamera module arranged to capture at least one image of a payment card;and a remote server comprising a memory storing customer account detailsassociated with an image relating to the payment card and merchantaccount details associated with details of the mobile device, the remoteserver arranged to identify the mobile device and to identify thepayment card based on a comparison of at least part of the at least onecaptured image received from the mobile device and the image relating tothe payment card, the remote server further being arranged to make thepayment transaction between the customer's account and the merchant'saccount.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the systemfurther comprises a mobile device associated with the customer, whereinthe remote server is further arranged to receive a personalidentification number from the customer's mobile device and to comparethe personal identification number with a number stored in the memory ofthe server associated with the payment card.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda remote server for making a payment transaction comprising: circuitryarranged to receive from a mobile device details of a paymenttransaction and at least one captured image of a payment card to be usedin the payment transaction; a memory for storing a plurality ofpre-registered images, and account details relating to a payment cardassociated with each image; and circuitry arranged to match a portion ofthe at least one captured image of the payment card in one of thepre-registered images, and to select the account details associated withthe pre-registered image for use in making the payment transaction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TEE FIGURES

The foregoing and other purposes, features, aspects and advantages ofthe invention will become apparent from the following detaileddescription of embodiments, given by way of illustration and notlimitation with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 (described above) illustrates schematically a payment methodcurrently used for making payments using a payment card;

FIG. 2 illustrates schematically a payment method according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates schematically a payment method according to analternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates schematically a payment system for implementing apayment method according to embodiments of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 illustrates the server of the system of FIG. 4 in more detailaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

FIG. 2 illustrates schematically a method of payment using a paymentcard 200 and a mobile device 202.

The payment card 200 is any card allowing account details of a customerto be identified, and is for example a smart card comprising a chip 204,although in the method described herein, the payment card need notinclude electronic storage means.

Mobile device 202 for example belongs to the merchant, and comprises acamera (not shown in FIG. 2) that can capture images. In the presentmethod, rather than using a chip reader to identify the customer andverify his/her PIN, mobile device 202 is used. Mobile device 202 is forexample a mobile telephone, or other portable communications devicecomprising a camera and being capable of data, video and/or voicecommunication with a remote server.

Mobile device 202 is registered with a credit card clearing house (CCCH)206. For example, the caller ID of the mobile device 202 is registeredwith the CCCH such that when a call or other data transmission is madeusing it, the calling/transmitting device is recognized, and thus themerchant is identified. Furthermore, the customer's payment card 200 isfor example also registered with the CCCH 206, and preferably a PIN hasbeen registered by the customer with the CCCH 206. The CCCH 206 executesthe transaction between the customer's bank 208 and the merchant's bank210, by directly requesting the transfers, for example after billing thecustomer.

The method starts at the point of sale, where a customer presents his orher payment card 200 to make a purchase. As shown by arrow 1 in FIG. 2,in a first step the merchant uses mobile device 202 to call the CCCH206, which recognizes the merchant via the caller ID associated with themobile device 202. The call is for example received by a server in theCCCH 206, which automatically responds to the call. In some embodimentsthe server in CCCH 206 operates an automatic voice response unit (AVRU).The call is for example a video call, or a standard voice call, made viaa mobile telephone network (not shown).

Details of the transaction are then provided by the merchant. Thesecould be typed into the keypad of the merchant's mobile device 202. Inthe case that an AVRU is used by the CCCH 206, the transaction detailscan be requested by a voice request in the AVRU, and a response typed bythe merchant in the keypad of the mobile device 202, and recognised bythe AVRU. Alternatively, the details could be spoken by the merchant andvoice recognition used to determine the transaction details. Thetransaction details include at least the total transaction amount, andin some embodiments could include other details, such as the transactiondate if the transaction is not to be executed immediately.

In alternative embodiments, rather than the merchant entering thetransaction details, such as the total amount of the transaction, usingthe keypad or by voice, this data is captured automatically by themobile device 202, for example using the camera of the mobile device. Inparticular, the device may comprise a barcode application adapted todecode barcodes. The merchant then uses the camera of the mobile deviceto capture images of barcodes attached to items that the customer wishesto purchase, and the barcodes are automatically decoded by the barcodeapplication on the mobile device, to extract the price of the item, andoptionally other details such as the name of the product. Once all ofthe barcodes have been captured and decoded, the total transactionamount is transmitted to the CCCH 206, for example by SMS text message.In this case; a call to the CCCH 206 is for example not needed.Additionally, not only barcodes of products could be scanned, but alsothe barcode of any offers, discounts or coupons, such that these can betaken into account.

Alternatively, in the case where a meter determines the transactionamount, for example a taxi meter in a taxi, or a parking payment machinedisplaying an amount to be paid, the merchant films or takes one or moreimages of the meter using the mobile device 202, and the transactionamount could then be automatically determined from the image, either bythe mobile device 202, or by the CCCH 206, using image recognition.

The CCCH 206 then requests that the merchant provides an image of thepayment card to be used in the transaction. For example, in someembodiments, a voice instruction is provided by the AVRU implemented bythe server in CCCH 206 for the merchant to capture images of the paymentcard, or in the case of a video call, visual instruction could betransmitted to the display of the mobile device 202 by the server ofCCCH 206. The merchant then captures one or more images of the paymentcard 200 using the camera of the mobile device 202. The captured imagesof the card are transmitted to the CCCH 206, for example either as partof the video call, or separately in the form of a media message. Othermeans of transmitting the image are possible,

The CCCH 206 recognizes the payment card 200 from the image, for exampleby recognizing the number stamped in the card, or by recognizing thebranding of the card, or other features of the card. The payment card200 for example also comprises a visual feature 212, distinguishing thepayment card, which could be a type of barcode or the like. This can beused in some embodiments to recognise the card and also to check theauthenticity of the payment card 200 The CCCH 206 then preferablyprompts the customer to enter the pre-registered PIN, or a random partof it, for example using an AVRU, via the merchant's phone. The enteredcharacters are transmitted to the CCCH 206 for verification. This PINcould be the same PIN that is stored on chip 204 of the payment card200, but for security reasons, it could be a different number.

The CCCH 206 then verifies that the PIN has been correctly entered, andif so, settles both accounts, for example by billing the customer thetransaction amount, and crediting the merchants bank with thecorresponding amount. The CCCH 206 then for example sends an SMS (shortmessage service) text message to the merchant's phone to confirm thattransaction has been executed, meaning that the merchant can allow thecustomer to leave the store with the goods. If the customer's mobiletelephone number has been registered with the CCCH, an SMS text messagecould also be sent to the customer's device to confirm the transaction,for example taking the place of a printed receipt.

FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative method of making a payment. Referencenumerals 200 to 212 designate the corresponding features in FIG. 2, andwill not be described again in detail.

The method of FIG. 3 involves an additional device, mobile device 312,which is a mobile device belonging to the customer. In this embodiment,the steps leading up to requesting the customer's PIN are the same asthose described in relation to FIG. 2 and will not be described again indetail.

Once the merchant has indicated the transaction details, and thecustomer's payment card has been recognized, the CCCH 206 identifies thecustomer. In this embodiment, the details of customer's device have beenpre-registered with the CCCH 206. The CCCH 206 determines that thecustomer's mobile telephone details are known, and that the customer hasopted to have their PIN requested using their mobile device. In thiscase, rather than sending the PIN request to the merchant's mobiledevice 202, the CCCH 206 transmits a PIN request to the customer'smobile device 312, for example in the form of an SMS message, or bymaking a call using an AVRU implemented by a server in the CCCH 206.Alternatively, a SIM (subscriber identity module) toolkit application, ajava application, phone resident application or the like, installed onthe mobile device 202, could be triggered by a text message or otherdata bearing protocol from the CCCH 206 to present on the display ofmobile device 202 a message requesting the customer's PIN. The customerreceives the request, and responds by providing the PIN, for example bytyping the characters on the keypad of mobile device 312, andtransmitting these characters via SMS, or within the AVRU, the AVRUrecognising the characters by their tone, or through the phone residentapplication on the mobile device 202.

Once the CCCH 206 has verified that the PIN is correct, a confirmationSMS can be transmitted to the customer's device 312, and to themerchant's device 202.

As described above, in both the methods of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the imageof the customer's payment card 200 is captured using the camera of themerchant's mobile device, for example either during a video call, or asa separate image that can be transmitted, for example as a mediamessage. In the case of a media message, in some embodiments, if theCCCH 206 determines that the captured image is not clear enough to beread, the CCCH could return a media message asking the merchant to tryagain. In the case that the image is captured during a video call, thereturn video provided to the merchant's mobile device by the CCCH 206could indicate the identification status, such that when the card hasbeen recognized a message appears on the merchant's phone 202 indicatingthis, and filming of the card is stopped.

FIG. 4 illustrates the blocks of a system 400 for implementing themethod of FIG. 2 or FIG. 3. The mobile device 202 and CCCH 206 areillustrated in more detail, along with the interfaces through which theycommunicate.

The mobile device 202 comprises a camera module 402, a display 404 and akeypad 406. It may also comprise further components not shown in FIG. 4,for example a base band processor, memory and battery.

The CCCH 206 comprises a server 408 which is able to communicate withthe mobile device 202. Server 408 is furthermore able to respond tovoice and/or video calls and/or receive SMS text or media messages, andin some embodiments implements an AVRU for responding to call.

Server 408 comprises a memory 409 which stores a number of imagesassociated with payment cards, and associated with each image, accountdetails relating to the payment card are for example stored, along witha PIN associated with the payment card. In this way, when an image ofthe payment card captured by the merchant's mobile device is received bythe server 408, the payment card can be identified by searching for amatch among the registered images relating to payment cards, and in thisway the customers account details can be determined. For example, theimages stored in the memory 409 could include a distinctive region ofthe payment card, such as the visual feature 212, or an image of thecard number stamped on the card, which can be recognised in the imagecaptured by the mobile device using automatic object recognitionimplemented by the server 408. Furthermore, the memory may also store,associated with payment card details, an indication of whether a PINrequest is to be made to a customer via their mobile device rather thanthe merchant's phone, and if so the customer's mobile telephone numberis also stored.

As illustrated, in this example the interfaces between the mobile device202 and the server 408 include the Internet 410, a mobile telephonenetwork 412 and the public switched telephone network (PSTN) 414. Inparticular, the mobile device 202 may have WLAN (wireless local areanetwork) access, allowing the merchant to access the Internet directlyvia a modem in the mobile device, and contact server 408 via anencrypted connection over the Internet 410. Alternatively, the mobiledevice 202 may be connected to the Internet 410 via the mobile telephonenetwork 412, for example using 3G or WAP (wireless applicationprotocol), and may connect to the server 408 via a secured encryptedconnection via the mobile network 412 and the Internet 410.Alternatively, the server 408 may have a connection to the mobilenetwork 412 directly, in which case the mobile telephone 202 couldcommunicate to the server 408 directly via the mobile network 412, forexample using 3G in the case of a 3G video call. As a furtheralternative, the server 408 may be accessed via the public switchtelephone network (PSTN), illustrated by block 414, either via themobile telephone network 412 or the Internet 410 accessible by themobile device 202.

FIG. 5 illustrates the server 408 of FIG. 4 in more detail according toone embodiment.

As illustrated, a communication interface 502 is provided forcommunicating with the mobile device of the merchant. Communicationinterface 502 for example comprises circuitry for connecting the server408 to one or more of the interfaces illustrated in FIG. 4 allowingcommunication with the mobile device.

The communication interface 502 is connected to a processor 504, whichis in turn connected to an optional barcode decoder 506. The barcodedecoder 506 is provided in embodiments in which the visual feature 212is a 2-D barcode. The barcode decoder decodes the card details and anyother data encoded by the barcode.

The memory 409 is connected to processor 504, and comprises a merchantdatabase 508, and a customer database 520. In this example, the merchantdatabase comprises merchant names 512, each associated with a merchantcaller identifier 514, and merchant account details 516. The customerdatabase comprises customer names 518, each associated with a customercard number 520, which is the payment card number of the customer'spayment card, and customer account details 522.

The processor 504 executes the steps of the server described above inrelation to FIGS. 2 and 3, for example providing an automotive voiceresponse system, and accessing the memory 409 to extract account detailof the customer and merchant etc.

Thus, a method has been described wherein a mobile device is used by amerchant to make a customer payment transaction, using the camera of themobile device to identify and in some embodiments authenticate thecustomer's payment card. The mobile device can then be used to make asecure connection to a credit card clearing house or the like in orderto provide the transaction details, and preferably initiate a PINrequest from the credit card clearing house.

An advantage of the payment method described herein is that, by using amobile device having a digital camera and the facility to connect to acredit card clearing house via one of a number of possible connectionmeans, the payment can be made in a cost effective and simple fashion.In particular, mobile devices are affordable devices that are already inhigh circulation, making them readily available for this purpose. Insome embodiments, connection to the CCCH is via a video call, which hasthe additional advantage of allowing an image of the payment card to becaptured with real time response from the CCCH. Mobile devicesincreasingly have 3G capability or the like, allowing video calls to bemade.

In some embodiments, a PIN request is made to a customer's mobiledevice. This has the additional advantage of adding an extra level ofsecurity to the transaction. In particular, in the case that the paymentcard is stolen, the thief would also need the card owner's mobile deviceand PIN in order to make a fraudulent transaction.

Whilst a number of particular embodiments have been described, it wouldbe clear to those skilled in the art that there are many alternativesthat may be applied. For example, while the invention has been describedin the case of a payment by credit card via a credit card clearinghouse, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the paymentcould relate to any type of card payment, in which a card can beidentified to identify the customer's bank account. Furthermore, thecredit card clearing house could be any establishment that can receiveauthenticate details of a transaction, and apply these by debiting thecustomer and crediting the merchant.

It will be clear that while the present invention has been described inrelation to a purchase by a customer, the same method could also beapplied to reimburse any customer, in which case the same acts could beperformed, only the transaction details indicating that the money has tobe credit to the customer's account, and debited from the merchant'sbank.

Furthermore, while a few examples of connection interfaces between themerchant's mobile device and the CCCH have been provided, otherinterfaces could be used, for example other types of mobile telephonystandards for calls or internet connections.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the featuresdescribed herein in relation to the various embodiments could becombined in alternative embodiments in any combination.

1-16. (canceled)
 17. A method comprising: transmitting, by a firstdevice and during a communication session with a second device, an imageof a payment card to the second device, the first device being differentthan the second device; transmitting, by the first device and during thecommunication session with the second device, transaction informationassociated with a transaction to the second device; receiving, by thefirst device and based on the transmitted image of the payment card andthe transmitted transaction information, information associated withprocessing the transaction using the payment card, the information beingreceived from the second device; and providing, by the first device andfor presentation, the received information associated with processingthe transaction.
 18. The method of claim 17, where, when transmittingthe transaction information, the method includes: transmitting atransaction amount to the second device.
 19. The method of claim 17,further comprising: receiving an image relating to an item associatedwith the transaction, where, when transmitting the transactioninformation, the method includes: transmitting the received image to thesecond device.
 20. The method of claim 19, where the image relating tothe item is a barcode associated with the item.
 21. The method of claim17, further comprising: establishing the communication session with thesecond device.
 22. The method of claim 17, where the communicationsession is a video session.
 23. The method of claim 17, furthercomprising: receiving an image relating to an item associated with thetransaction; and receiving an image of information associated with theitem, the image of the information associated with the item beingassociated with at least one of: an offer associated with the item, adiscount associated with the item, or a coupon associated with the item,where, when transmitting the transaction information, the methodincludes: transmitting the received image of the item and the receivedimage of the information associated with the item to the second device.24. A first device comprising: one or more processors to: transmit,during a communication session with a second device, an image of apayment card to the second device, the first device being different thanthe second device; transmit, during the communication session with thesecond device, transaction information associated with a transaction tothe second device; receive, based on the transmitted image of thepayment card and the transmitted transaction information, informationassociated with processing the transaction using the payment card, theinformation being received from the second device; and provide, forpresentation, the received information associated with processing thetransaction.
 25. The first device of claim 24, where the one or moreprocessors, when transmitting the transaction information, are furtherto: transmit a transaction amount to the second device.
 26. The firstdevice of claim 24, where the one or more processors are further to:receive an image relating to an item associated with the transaction,where the one or more processors, when transmitting the transactioninformation, are further to: transmit the received image to the seconddevice.
 27. The first device of claim 26, where the image relating tothe item is a barcode associated with the item.
 28. The first device ofclaim 24, where the one or more processors are further to: establish thecommunication session with the second device.
 29. The first device ofclaim 24, where the communication session is a video session.
 30. Thefirst device of claim 24, where the one or more processors are furtherto: receive an image relating to an item associated with thetransaction; and receive an image of information associated with theitem, the image of the information associated with the item beingassociated with at least one of: an offer associated with the item, adiscount associated with the item, or a coupon associated with the item,where the one or more processors, when transmitting the transactioninformation, are further to: transmit the received image of the item andthe received image of the information associated with the item to thesecond device.
 31. A first device comprising: one or more processors to:receive, during a communication session with a second device, an imageof a payment card from the second device, the first device beingdifferent than the second device; receive, during the communicationsession and from the second device, transaction information associatedwith a transaction; perform, based on the received image of the paymentcard and the received transaction information, a payment transactionbetween an account associated with the payment card and an accountassociated with the second device; and transmit information associatedwith the payment transaction, the information being transmitted to thesecond device.
 32. The first device of claim 31, where the one or moreprocessors are further to: receive, from a third device, theidentification information of a user associated with the third device,the first device being different than the second device and beingdifferent than the third device; and transmit, to the third device andbased on the received identification information, the informationassociated with the payment transaction.
 33. The first device of claim31, where the one or more processors, when receiving the transactioninformation, are further to: receive a transaction amount from thesecond device.
 34. The first device of claim 31, where the one or moreprocessors, when receiving the transaction information, are further to:receive, from the second device, an image relating to an item associatedwith the transaction.
 35. The first device of claim 31, where the one ormore processors, when receiving the transaction information, are furtherto: receive an image relating to an item associated with thetransaction; and receive an image of information associated with theitem, the image of the information associated with the item beingassociated with at least one of: an offer associated with the item, adiscount associated with the item, or a coupon associated with the item.36. The first device of claim 31, where the communication session is avideo session.